The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-25
NUMBER Ga.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Editor of The Pdiatkd Netm.

fHu0r W The Edidfhd Netts.
McMEEKIs, FLA, May %.
III there Is one proposition clear 10 the
mind OF thoughtful men, IL is that the
development of Florida into populous,
prosperous and wealthy State, depends
largely, almost entirely, ON correspond
ing development OF railroads. Railroads
are a sing qua non Of Fiorida's future de-
velopment into greatness. Then IL must
be equally plain that any Legislation that
necessarily obstructs railroad building,
is very unwise, as il will be followed by
injurious consequences 10 the people Of
the State. Now, the question is, 'Is n
a Railroad Commission calculated TO
benefit the people OF the State and be no
obstruction to railroad buildingY"
or course this must be determined by
the character of the commissioners and
the law under which they act. All that
the people want is reasonable and fair
treatment ON the part Of railroad com
panies, and the subjects ON which a
commission would be likely To be called
on to act, would mostly fall under two
heads, overcharge and discrimination.
Ii is possible that Railroad Commission
might be so organized as To be of mo- inn
pediment TO railroad development, but
to the mind of the writer. the probabili-
ties are that the commission will cause a
distrust on the part of capital and, much
money would be diverted from railroad
building i'm this State by the establish
mant of RaflrnaH which
otherwise would have been invested
here. II a commission is likely 10 have
this effect, why have one il the interest
of the people can be protected without
il! The people do not desire anything
but fair treatment ON the part Of railroad
companies, no reasonable citizen would
desire to force the railroads to pursue
that line of charges which would bring
them to bankruptcy.
Reasonable charges, no discrimination,
and accountability for the safe and
prompt delivery Of the things trans
ported about includes all that would be
under the care of C. commission. Why
cannot this be secured by law, without
the aid Of a commissiong The Legisla-
ture certainly has the power to fix a
tariff of maximum charges on freight
and passengers, and 10 say 10 railroad
but If you charge more, il
is crime, and the punishment
is a heavy fine and five times the over
charge returned to the party wronged,
and SO determinations may be punished
in the same way. There would he no
trouble about enforcing the law, and it's
enforcement would soon stop it's viola
tion. Surely a reasonable and just tariff
of charges could be fixed by the Legisla-
ture for all the important articles of
transportation-just and reasonable for
both the railroad companies and the
people. This, of course, would require
the work Of a committee selected for that
purpose, with n view TO their fitness for
the work and with authority TO secure
information from number Of railroad
authorities not interested in the State as
well as those interested, and the reason
able result would be fair schedule
of rates, as fair as commission
couId make, ana tte only chhrRe
that would be likely 10 be
required would be the lowering
of the rates as the country would settle
up. thereby increasing the work Of ths
railroads and enabling them to carry Mt
lower prices. In the meantime there
would he no restriction ON the railroads
in charging a lower rate than that fixed
by law, and once in two years would be
often enough for the Legislature 10 re-
wise the rates. Now, IL this will secure
fair dealing for the people, why should
the doubtful experiment OF n commits
sion be tried, and at a tax 10 the people
of some ten or fifteen thousand dollars
year?
Let us first try this power OF the Legis-
lature and law and IL that fails, then the
commission can be added. The railroad
companies of Florida have not oppressed
the people so much that we need TO be
harsh with them. Let us go 'slow, but
sure" +. M. McMRRKIs.